Jim's Folly

NOTE TO ABBY/ANGIE: Girls….LOOK. I don't rightly care if you like my story or not. I'll admit that your review irked me to the point of screaming in frustration, but that's all I'll say regarding that. I'm not interested in the less-than-kind things you have to say to me OR to Etherium's Angel. She's just trying to write for pleasure just like many of the rest of us on here at FF.net. Look, all I'm trying to get across is that not many people like the idea of multiple personality and their antics. Trust me, I know from experience.

One more thing: Cruelty added to advertising is not a good way to put your story in peoples' good books. Next time, remember the feelings of others and lighten up before you review so harshly.

And I speak for Etherium's Angel when I say that Zandra is not a hussy. I think, out of curiosity, I might just travel on over to your little story and see what kind of character you've made 'Angie' out to be. Okay, so I just read chapter one and two. I want you to know that you have no right to even begin to have the nerve to comment on Zandra. Focus on your own characters before you go insulting others', okay?


Chapter Forty Six

Andrew watched Avery behind the glass as his Asian-looking friend belted out the lyrics to an older, slower, more opera-style song. Andrew was astounded at Avery's talent. He kept it hidden beneath that cool exterior. Andrew had no idea Avery could sing like this.

As Avery finished the last note, chills ran up Andrew's spine. He wanted to sing like that.

Avery patted Andrew on the back and sent him into the soundproof box next.

As the young teen watched, the same girl from earlier walked in, smiling. Darryl instructed Andrew to sing.

Andrew sang, but watched the girl. Who was she? She seemed…familiar in a way. He didn't know why, nor where…but her presence made him wonder.

She was short and sweet in appearance, but he could tell there was much more to her just by looking into her eyes. Her eyes hid the mischievous attitude she clearly kept just below the surface.

Darryl signaled that Andrew wrap up his song.

Andrew left the sound booth and studied the girl some more while she wasn't looking. She was short, too. Short, thin and young. Her reddish-blonde hair was up in a ponytail at the back of her head and her big blue eyes were framed by long eyelashes and neat eyebrows. Her face was smooth and clear and her small body clothed in style.

Andrew, for the life of him, couldn't figure out how old she was.

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"So who is she?" Andrew asked, not looking up from his magazine as Avery played the piano. Avery stopped playing for a moment, smiling faintly.

"You mean Ruby?"

"If that's her name," Andrew replied, meeting the eyes of his friend.

Avery pivoted his body so he was facing the younger male and smiled. "Ruby's a sweet girl."

"Who is she? And how old is she, for another matter…?"

"She's fifteen," Avery informed him. Andrew's eyes widened. "She looks…"

"So young, yeah, I know. She's actually studying to be your bodyguard."

That silenced Andrew once and for all. Such a small girl…to be his bodyguard? Ludicrous.

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Raven was afraid to look at the test.

Dr. Orca agreed to look for her and smiled, hope in her eyes. "It's positive, Raven."
Raven let out a tremendous breath of air and squeezed her husband's hand.

Jim nodded. "How long do we have to wait to know if it's a success?"

Dr. Orca shrugged. "Miscarriages can happen up into months into a pregnancy. However, your wife was common having them early on in her cycle, so she probably wouldn't go out of her normal pattern. If you can pass two months, you'll be into safety."
Jim nodded solemnly. "What can I do to make sure she gets there?"

Dr. Orca smiled. "You're a good husband. Just treat her well and make sure she rests and stays out of trouble. No stress, no bad food. No spices, nothing that isn't good for her."
Jim nodded, meeting the eyes of his wife. "Can you do that for me?"

"I'm gonna have to," she replied quietly, her eyes sad. There was little hope in her heart that this was going to be a success. What was going to make it different from all the other times?

---

Two months had passed. Many things had occurred. Among them, Raven was starting to show. Her pregnancy had bypassed two months and she was entering the third. Ecstatic, her hope was growing for this baby she carried.

In the news, the group "Mirrored Truth" was making it big. Unknown to Raven, it was a duet of Avery and Andrew, joining to become their own band. Raven hadn't been able to get ahold of him. She'd tried hard, but no one would allow her clearance to talk with him. Not to mention, she had no idea what Simon's number was to contact Andrew though him.

Silver had gone away for awhile, having borrowed a ship and sailed across the Etherium for some alone-time.

Morph had gone with him.

Ruby was ready to be Andrew's bodyguard. He was surprised at her skill.

He wasn't surprised at the tabloids that began to appear.

At Andrew's home, Simon often lay on the floor, stoned. He'd lost his son to the world of media. There was no turning back from that. So, Simon would tell himself, why not indulge in the good things? Life was short.

For Simon, life was too long. The drugs he began to take began to shorten his life increasingly.

One evening, Andrew came home to a dark and quiet house. He'd snuck away from the ways of media and wanted to come to his own bed for a night or two. Ruby had escorted him and then he was home free. Turning on a light, Andrew heard water running in the bathroom. Simon must be having a shower, he thought to himself.

"Simon?" he called, heading towards the bathroom after locking the front door.

After turning some more lights on, Andrew knocked on the bathroom door. "Simon? You in here?"

The door was ajar. Odd, Andrew thought. Simon never leaves the door open…

Pushing it open, Andrew staggered back at the sight he saw. Simon was in the bathtub, fully clothed, covered with water. The water had just begun to spill over the sides and pool on the floor. Simon's eyes and mouth were open under the water, and Andrew noticed the empty bottle of pills next to the tub. Suppressing a scream, Andrew grabbed at the door but fell to the ground in fright before he could get anywhere. Nothing would tear him from that sight. Nothing.

Andrew didn't even scream that night. The water began to crowd around him and he began to cry. Tears mixed with the water on the floor and Andrew rocked silently in the corner, his eyes never leaving his dead, drowned father. Suicide.

His father had committed suicide.

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